New rules for learner drivers

At least 80 percent of the process of obtaining both the provisional and practical drivers licence will now be conducted inside Vehicle Inspection Department depots with the public watching to discourage officers from corruption.

This was said yesterday by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu in a speech read on his behalf by the ministry's permanent secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa at the commissioning of the newly constructed VID Chitungwiza Depot.

Dr Mpofu said corruption had reached alarming levels, prompting the ministry to review the process of getting licences and retests.

"I am concerned by allegations of corruption in the process of testing of both provisional and practical drivers licences," he said. "This has prompted us to review the way we work to eliminate such tendencies.

"I am pleased to advise that practically, 80 percent of the test is now done in the VID depots with the public watching. This is meant to minimise the reason for bribery."

Dr Mpofu said the project of constructing standard hill-starts within VID complexes had commenced where driving tests, including parallel parking and three point turns will be done.

He said with regards to the theoretical test, a computerised system of the testing procedure was under way to remove human interference and reduce chances of manipulating the results of the tests.

"Our target is that within the next quarter, we should float a tender for e-provisional driver testing to enable the project roll-out in 2016," said.

Dr Mpofu said all the challenges, including road accidents, could be alleviated by investment in sound infrastructure. VID Chitungwiza depot manager Mr Machona Katena said the completion of the depot came at the right time as most drivers had gone through tests in a sub-standard environment.

Mr Katena said the construction of the depot had taken 11 years and hindered the organisation's work.

"The construction of the depot started in 2004 and was stalled in 2005 due to macro-economic challenges," he said. Herald